Fuze

In military munitions, a fuze (sometimes spelled fuse) is the part of the device that initiates its function. In some applications, such as torpedoes, a fuze may be identified by function as the exploder. The relative complexity of even the earliest fuze designs can be seen in cutaway diagrams. A fuze is a device that detonates a munition's explosive material under specified conditions. In addition, a fuze will have safety and arming mechanisms that protect users from premature or accidental detonation. For example, an artillery fuze's battery is activated by the high acceleration of cannon launch, and the fuze must be spinning rapidly before it will function. "Complete bore safety" can be achieved with mechanical shutters that isolate the detonator from the main charge until the shell is fired. A fuze may contain only the electronic or mechanical elements necessary to signal or actuate the detonator, but some fuzes contain a small amount of primary explosive to initiate the detonation. Fuzes for large explosive charges may include an explosive booster.

In military munitions, a fuze (sometimes spelled fuse) is the part of the device that initiates its function. In some applications, such as torpedoes, a fuze may be identified by function as the exploder. The relative complexity of even the earliest fuze designs can be seen in cutaway diagrams. A fuze is a device that detonates a munition's explosive material under specified conditions. In addition, a fuze will have safety and arming mechanisms that protect users from premature or accidental detonation. For example, an artillery fuze's battery is activated by the high acceleration of cannon launch, and the fuze must be spinning rapidly before it will function. "Complete bore safety" can be achieved with mechanical shutters that isolate the detonator from the main charge until the shell is fired. A fuze may contain only the electronic or mechanical elements necessary to signal or actuate the detonator, but some fuzes contain a small amount of primary explosive to initiate the detonation. Fuzes for large explosive charges may include an explosive booster.

Name

The word derives from Italian fuso, itself derived form Latin fūsus, spindle, applied to the spindle-shaped tube originally used to detonate a bomb. "Fuse" is attested from 1647. Some professional publications about explosives and munitions distinguish the "fuse" and "fuze" spellings. Where a distinction is made usages are: Fuse: Cord or tube for the transmission of flame or explosion usually consisting of cord or rope with gunpowder or high explosive spun into it. (The spelling fuze may also be met for this term, but fuse is the preferred spelling in this context.) Fuze: A device with explosive components designed to initiate a main charge. (The spelling fuse may also be met for this term, but fuze is the preferred spelling in this context.) Historically, it was spelled with either 's' or 'z', and both spellings can still be found. File:Bombing_up_106_Squadron_Lancaster_WWII_IWM_CH_12541.jpg|Avro Lancaster at RAF Metheringham. Note the "Fuzed" status, chalked on the nose of each bomb File:British_20_mm_Oerlikon_shell_diagrams.jpg|Oerlikon 20 mm cannon fuze File:QF2pdrVickersHVShell1943.jpg|Cross-sectional views of QF 2-pounder naval gun shells, showing percussion fuzes. File:M107_Shells.JPEG|Fuzes fitted to M107 155mm artillery shells, c. 2000 File:White_Phosphorous_mortar_round.jpg|Fuzed 81mm white phosphorus mortar shell in 1980. Note spelling of "fuze" on adjacent boxes File:Multiple fuzes.gif|An assortment of fuzes for artillery and mortar shells File:British 4 inch 35 lb star shell 1943 diagram.jpg|British World War II 4-inch naval illuminating shell, showing time fuze (orange, top), illuminating compound (green) and parachute (white, bottom) File:No145MkIPercussionFuzeDiagram.jpg|Fuze for a Stokes mortar shell File:No63FuzeMkIC.jpg|British No. 63 Mk I Time and Percussion fuze, c. 1915, used in shrapnel shells File:No100FuzeDiagram.jpg|British No. 100 Graze Fuze for high-explosive shell, World War I. File:No110MkIIIPercussionFuzeDiagram.jpg|British Percussion Fuze No. 110 Mk III, World War I, used in trench mortars File:No131DAImpactFuzeMkVIDiagram.jpg|British No. 131 D.A. (Direct Action) Impact Fuze, Mk VI, World War I, used in anti-aircraft artillery File:No16DMkIVNBasePercussionFuzeLarge.jpg|British No. 16 D Mk IV N Base percussion fuze, c. 1936 File:No45PDAImpactFuzeDiagram.jpg|British No. 45 P Direct Action Impact Fuze, World War I, used in howitzer shells File:Type_99_grenade.jpg|Cut-away diagram of Japanese Type 99 Grenade showing fuze mechanism. c. 1939 File:M2A4_mine_M6A1_fuze.jpg|Cut-away diagram of a US M2A4 bounding mine showing the M6A1 pressure/pull fuze. c. 1950 File:Russian_-_VPF_pull_fuze.jpg|USSR pull-fuze designed for booby-trap or anti-handling purposes. c. 1950s. Detonator assembly is inserted into explosives File:Russian_-_MUV_pull_fuze.jpg|Alternative design of USSR booby-trap pull-fuze, usually connected to a tripwire. c. 1950s File:Russian_MV-5_pressure_fuze.jpg|USSR pressure fuze for booby-trap purposes e.g. victim steps on loose floorboard with fuze (connected to TNT explosives) concealed underneath. c. 1950s File:TC24_Italian_landmine_cutaway.png|Italian TC/2.4 mine c. 1980s showing central location of mechanical pressure fuze File:Smine-diagram.jpg|German S-mine dating from World War II showing fuze well into which a 3-pronged fuze would be screwed File:Smine-sensor.jpg|Fuze for a German S-mine, which would be screwed into the fuze well on the mine File:M1-M4_mine_cutaway.JPG|M4 anti tank mine, showing main fuze in the centre, plus 2 additional fuze pockets (both empty) which provide the option to fit anti-handling devices File:Landmine_anti-handling_devices.png|Typical configuration of a pull fuze and/or pressure-release fuze attached to M15 anti-tank landmines File:Torpedo exploder Mark 6 Mod 1.jpg|The problem-prone Mark 6 magnetic influence exploder for the Mark 14 submarine torpedo was secretly developed with limited testing between the world wars

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